There are two ways to find out who San Diego State’s nonconference opponents are in men’s basketball.
One is to wait until its own schedule release, usually in late summer.
The other is to look at schedule releases from other schools, which are typically much earlier.
Arizona unveiled its nonconference slate Wednesday … and there is SDSU, scheduled for an Oct. 16 preseason exhibition at Tucson’s McKale Center. Tip time and TV were not announced.
Teams are allowed three preseason exhibitions in 2026-27, up one from previous years. Coach Brian Dutcher has generally preferred playing someone very good, whether it was closed-door scrimmages against UCLA or last fall’s exhibition against the Bruins at Viejas Arena before paying customers.
Arizona reached the Final Four last season and spent several weeks ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, finishing with a 36-3 record that included a 68-45 win against SDSU in Phoenix on Dec. 20. The Wildcats appear in the top 10 of most preseason rankings and as high as No. 3 by The Athletic.
The coaching staffs at SDSU and Arizona are known to have a good relationship, with regular discussions about reviving what not long ago was a robust rivalry.
The last time SDSU played at the McKale Center was Nov. 23, 2011, a 61-57 Aztecs win in which Tim Shelton famously drew six charging fouls. In all, however, the Aztecs are 2-14 in Tucson.
The move to the Pac-12 means a 16-game conference schedule instead of 20 in the Mountain West, allowing up to 16 nonconference games plus three exhibitions. The Aztecs are expected to play 14 or 15, leaving them with five or six more open dates.
Based on a variety of sources, here’s what San Diego State’s nonconference schedule looks like so far:
Oct. 16: at Arizona (exhibition)
Nov. 4: vs. Cal State Fullerton (Viejas Arena)
Nov. 7: vs. Colorado (Pechanga Arena)
Nov. 24: vs. Iowa State (Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas), 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 25: vs. Tennessee/Maryland (Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas)
Nov. 26: Players Era, Las Vegas
Dec. 5: vs. UNLV (Viejas Arena)
Dec. 11: vs. Montana State (Viejas Arena)
Dec. 19: vs. BYU (Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert), 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 22: vs. Long Island (Viejas Arena)